Tuesday, June 9, 2015

John Larkin recently was featured in a well-done article in African American News Journal where he was quoted regarding his part in construction taking place at the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML). Larkin’s company, a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certified firm, recently won the contract for all fire alarm renovations, installations, and on-going service and inspections within the entire CML enterprise.

The following is a reproduction of this recent article by Nancy Tidwell, a Diversity & Inclusion
Consultant expert.

When the CEO of Columbus
Metropolitan Library (CML)
first sat across the table from
me in a meeting about construction
and asked, “What
do you think?” I knew I was
in good company. Rarely does
the owner’s top officer of any
construction project sit at the
same table with the diversity
and inclusion consultant,
much less ask for an opinion. This I can attest to
after nearly 20 years of experience in the field.

It continued to happen time and time again as
perceived wrinkles in the program were worked
out and everyone including community advocates,
library staff and construction management
knew without a doubt that CEO Pat Losinski,
backed by the CML Board of Trustees, is serious
about diversity and inclusion. His concern is not
commitment—it is “how” do we make it happen?

Pizzuti, the owner’s representative, is leading
that charge and has already demonstrated that
its team is bold enough to see the project through
in achieving the desired results.

The project is off to a good start with the construction
management team at Turner Construction
keeping their eyes open for every opportunity to
be inclusive. The first two bid packages exceeded
the 20% MBE/WBE goal for contract awards and are committed to achieving
10% minority/6.9% female
goal for employment.

When budgetary concerns
led to shutting down Main
Library during renovation,
creativity came into play and
“cut and cap” work was identified
for mechanical, electrical
and plumbing. All three
were awarded to minority contractors—the local
office of Coleman Spohn, DEH Electric and
Clive Stephens Plumbing. With that same creativity,
technology cabling for Main Library and six
branch locations was divided up between three
primes—Gudenkauf, which subcontracted 19% of
its work to an MBE firm; U.S. Communications, a
female-owned company; and Crossbow Systems,
a minority-owned firm.

Perhaps one of the most significant contract
awards thus far is the bulk purchase of a fire alarm
system for Main Library and seven branches. Selected
was Electronic Systems Consultants, a minority
business enterprise owned by John Larkin.

“As a startup company in Central Ohio and the
sole source provider for the library’s fire alarm
and life safety system, we are very excited about
the opportunity to be a part of this project. We
are not only committed to providing a seamless
installation but to developing a long-term relationship
with the library,” stated Larkin.

CML’s diversity and inclusion effort doesn’t stop
here. Job referral flyers have been posted in all of
its locations in an effort to identify individuals in
need of work who are also interested in construction.
With a shortage of construction workers in
the forecast, the project team will forward this
information to contractors who are hiring. At the
same time, every job referral form submitted will
be responded to with information on employment
resources and training, including apprenticeship
programs. In addition, awarded contractors will
be asked to consider the internship placement of
local students pursuing a career in construction.

CML is in the midst of building five new libraries,
renovating two and transforming its Main Library
in downtown Columbus. Two earlier branches,
Driving Park and Whitehall, were completed
under a different delivery method. In order to
facilitate a more effective diversity and inclusion
process, the project delivery method for the remaining
libraries was changed to Construction
Manager at Risk.

One thing is clear though—it is the project owner
that makes the difference in determining whether
or not diversity and inclusion is taken seriously.
In this case, Columbus Metropolitan Library is
setting a precedent that will long be remembered.

Nancy R. Tidwell is a Diversity & Inclusion
Consultant.

Editor's Note: John Larkin is available for speaking engagements as well as interviews with magazines and newspapers. For more information, contact Allan B. Colombo, Director of Social Media and Web Assets, at 330-956-9003, or by email: click here.

On April 27th, John Larkin, senior partner, appeared on the Out and About Columbus program on Channel 6 where he and ESC were featured.In August of 2014, John Larkin, ESC founder and senior partner, was interviewed by Channel 10, CBS, in Columbus, regarding the State's MBE program.